Heart rate monitors

chunt87
chunt87 Posts: 161 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Can anyone recommend a good heart rate monitor that can help me track calories burned doing things like weight training and aerobics classes?

I do not want a watch--I have a fitbit for that. I want something I can easily put around myself to track my heart rate that can sync to my phone or computer because I am a beginner and feel like I am getting generous calorie estimates on here for things like zumba, running, spinning, etc.
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Replies

  • xsmilexforxmex
    xsmilexforxmex Posts: 1,216 Member
    Most HRM will have some sort of watch or device to see the HR (eg: "monitor")...
    that being said - anything by Polar is great, but only some of them sync online/to a computer.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    Most HRMs will consist of a chest strap which sends data to a wrist watch. Some of the higher end models sync to computers etc.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    HRMs aren't designed for weight training - the energy expended in weight training isn't related to heart rate.

    I don't sync my HRM (Polar FT7) so can't help with your question but have a look at http://www.polar.com/uk-en/products

    Edit to add - online calculators for running and walking are likely to be at least as accurate as a HRM. For anything but steady state cardio then HRM accuracy isn't likely to be great.
  • Dozer71
    Dozer71 Posts: 11 Member
    Polar and Wahoo both have HRM that connect to smart phones so no watch needed. As has been said earlier, the calorie burn calculation is generally suitable for steady state cardio. However they are good to tell you hard you are going and recovery rate when doing HIIT.
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    Love my Polar FT7. Can highly recommend it.
  • davmeis
    davmeis Posts: 7 Member
    I use the Under Armour 39. It is a chest strap and links to an app on my phone (doesn't download to the computer though). I've used it for basketball, weight training, running, and while doing P90x3. It seems to be a little more expensive than the others ($99) but I like it and haven't had any issues using it for the last 4 months
  • SKME2013
    SKME2013 Posts: 704 Member
    You can download the polar beat app to iPhone and some android phones for free and combined with the polar H7 heart strap it records your heart beat and calories...
    Stef.
  • 101sal
    101sal Posts: 43 Member
    A HRM will help you target the ideal zone for fat burn which is normally 65 - 75% of your maximum heart rate, aim to exercise in this zone and it will fly off for you ! I use a timex ironman watch/chest strap combo which you cannot sync unfortunately but i do keep a log in excel so no problem for me. Not the best answer but just trying to help.:happy:
  • Fit4LifeJulie
    Fit4LifeJulie Posts: 16 Member
    I have a Polar WearLink Bluetooth that syncs to my Android and I use it all the time when running and for other workouts. I bought it from amazon a few years ago for around $75. The now have a newer model F7 http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Bluetooth-Smart-Heart-Sensor/dp/B007S088F4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399737074&sr=8-1&keywords=polar+wearlink+bluetooth
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    A HRM will help you target the ideal zone for fat burn which is normally 65 - 75% of your maximum heart rate, aim to exercise in this zone and it will fly off for you ! I use a timex ironman watch/chest strap combo which you cannot sync unfortunately but i do keep a log in excel so no problem for me. Not the best answer but just trying to help.:happy:
    Exercise is for fitness and health. Diet is for weight loss. While scientifically there is a heart rate zone that burns more fat for energy, the duration one would have to do to equal exercise calorie count in a higher zone (85% and higher) would be much much longer. And calories are what count most. What most people don't know is that one burns more fat at rest and sleep than a 1-2 hour session of "fat burning zone" exercise.
    Work on raising RMR to burn more fat.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    A HRM will help you target the ideal zone for fat burn which is normally 65 - 75% of your maximum heart rate, aim to exercise in this zone and it will fly off for you ! I use a timex ironman watch/chest strap combo which you cannot sync unfortunately but i do keep a log in excel so no problem for me. Not the best answer but just trying to help.:happy:

    Except....no
  • 101sal
    101sal Posts: 43 Member
    flying off me so disagree sorry , but i guess its a case of what works for you :-)
  • 101sal
    101sal Posts: 43 Member
    working in the target zone works for me and 11kg lost is proof for me :-)
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    HRMs aren't designed for weight training - the energy expended in weight training isn't related to heart rate.

    I don't sync my HRM (Polar FT7) so can't help with your question but have a look at http://www.polar.com/uk-en/products

    Edit to add - online calculators for running and walking are likely to be at least as accurate as a HRM. For anything but steady state cardio then HRM accuracy isn't likely to be great.

    ^Agreed. HRMs are designed for steady rate cardio. It even says so on the product. It's not meant to be used to figure out strength training, HIIT, yoga, many dvd type workouts and such.

    Some interesting reading/info on HRMs

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1044313-this-is-why-hrms-have-limited-use-for-tracking-calories

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472
  • fivethreeone
    fivethreeone Posts: 8,196 Member
    working in the target zone works for me and 11kg lost is proof for me :-)

    Wait, you didn't have a calorie deficit or anything??
  • chunt87
    chunt87 Posts: 161 Member
    Have any of you tried the wahoo tickr. I like the idea of setting something up and then looking at it later in my workout or being able to watch it while I am on the treadmill. I have just been getting really frustrated because I spend alot of time in the gym and have been having a calorie deficit with no poundage lost (theres health issues there too) and thought something like this could help me.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Have any of you tried the wahoo tickr. I like the idea of setting something up and then looking at it later in my workout or being able to watch it while I am on the treadmill. I have just been getting really frustrated because I spend alot of time in the gym and have been having a calorie deficit with no poundage lost (theres health issues there too) and thought something like this could help me.

    Are you using a food scale to measure your food? Are you consistently logging everything you eat/drink and doing it every day?

    ETA: A fitbit will calculate the overall burn and such. Do you feel this is exaggerated or something?
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    get a bodymedia device. it will track your exercise cals AND your non exercise cals. even if you get the exercise cals perfect there's still 23 hours left in the day to get right.

    .......orrrrrrr, closely monitor your food intake (weigh and log every bite) and if you're not progressing reduce your cals by 200. you don't need hyperaccurate calorie counts, you just need consistency
  • chunt87
    chunt87 Posts: 161 Member
    I was looking at the H7 as well. I like the idea of just something that connects to my phone and saves the data so I can use it later or view it at the time like if I am on the treadmill
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    get a bodymedia device. it will track your exercise cals AND your non exercise cals. even if you get the exercise cals perfect there's still 23 hours left in the day to get right.

    .......orrrrrrr, closely monitor your food intake (weigh and log every bite) and if you're not progressing reduce your cals by 200. you don't need hyperaccurate calorie counts, you just need consistency

    ^All of the above.
  • chunt87
    chunt87 Posts: 161 Member
    Have any of you tried the wahoo tickr. I like the idea of setting something up and then looking at it later in my workout or being able to watch it while I am on the treadmill. I have just been getting really frustrated because I spend alot of time in the gym and have been having a calorie deficit with no poundage lost (theres health issues there too) and thought something like this could help me.

    Are you using a food scale to measure your food? Are you consistently logging everything you eat/drink and doing it every day?

    ETA: A fitbit will calculate the overall burn and such. Do you feel this is exaggerated or something?

    I have been using a food scale religiously and measuring out everything I eat. I log everything too. I have Drs working with me on controlling my thyroid so I know its just extra hard but still possible to lose some of the weight I gained from this. I think that maybe the fitbit and the mfp calories burned from exercise may be a bit exaggerated since I have been doing these things and not losing

    And bodymedia. May have to look into them
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Have any of you tried the wahoo tickr. I like the idea of setting something up and then looking at it later in my workout or being able to watch it while I am on the treadmill. I have just been getting really frustrated because I spend alot of time in the gym and have been having a calorie deficit with no poundage lost (theres health issues there too) and thought something like this could help me.

    Are you using a food scale to measure your food? Are you consistently logging everything you eat/drink and doing it every day?

    ETA: A fitbit will calculate the overall burn and such. Do you feel this is exaggerated or something?

    I have been using a food scale religiously and measuring out everything I eat. I log everything too. I have Drs working with me on controlling my thyroid so I know its just extra hard but still possible to lose some of the weight I gained from this. I think that maybe the fitbit and the mfp calories burned from exercise may be a bit exaggerated since I have been doing these things and not losing

    And bodymedia. May have to look into them

    Do you double log your exercise? Have you considered just not logging exercise on MFP and going off of what the fitbit says?

    I like Bodymedia, but using that, I don't log any exercises.
  • chunt87
    chunt87 Posts: 161 Member
    I might try that and just log things like weight training on here.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    I might try that and just log things like weight training on here.

    But don't you wear your fitbit when you are doing weight training? It should be accounting that with the calorie burn or no? Not sure how fitbit works in that regard. I know Bodymedia has 5 sensors versus the 2 for most devices and aside from motion, reads off skin temperature and response.

    I thought maybe fitbit was a bit similar in regards to you just go by the burn they give and you don't log additional activities unless you weren't wearing it when you did them.
  • chunt87
    chunt87 Posts: 161 Member
    the fitbit only measures step related activity. So things like weight training, and other non step activity like swimming arent counted. I have noticed with it too if I go for a run or something with a gps device I need to log it on their site afterwards because I have a long stride for a short person
  • paulperryman
    paulperryman Posts: 839 Member
    I have had 2 Polar FT4's both crapped out on me within 4 months, since bought a FT70 and it's great. add it with a Fitibit Flex and they are perfect companion devices
  • paulperryman
    paulperryman Posts: 839 Member
    the fitbit only measures step related activity. So things like weight training, and other non step activity like swimming arent counted. I have noticed with it too if I go for a run or something with a gps device I need to log it on their site afterwards because I have a long stride for a short person

    Fitbit measures movement not steps if you wear the wrist one and stand still and just move your arm it will register steps and the faster you move the more it will register and if your hand/wrist is vibrating due to holding machinery or something it will register even more, which indicates it's not steps at all and if you have calorie estimate turned on it adds a guestimate of calories you would've burned in a normal TDEE when you aren't moving. It all seems to balance out tho as far as calories are concerned compared to say a polar heart rate monitor worn for the same 24hr period, it's the steps that aren't necessarily accurate which is ironic since it's marketed as a pedometer.

    All the devices are to be used as a guide not gospel

    just as an example i work primarily as a forklift driver yet somehow still manage to get in 13000 steps in a 9hr work day that consist of 7hrs of sitting on the forklift granted the arms and legs are constantly moving but i'm not walking and thus not stepping Driving a car registers a few hundred in a 30min drive, once again not walking anywhere so it's registering movement not steps perse.
  • LittleMissFit83
    LittleMissFit83 Posts: 38
    I was looking at the H7 as well. I like the idea of just something that connects to my phone and saves the data so I can use it later or view it at the time like if I am on the treadmill

    I have the H7 and I absolutely love it! It's nice to not have to wear a HRM watch anymore! :)
  • chunt87
    chunt87 Posts: 161 Member
    the fitbit only measures step related activity. So things like weight training, and other non step activity like swimming arent counted. I have noticed with it too if I go for a run or something with a gps device I need to log it on their site afterwards because I have a long stride for a short person

    Fitbit measures movement not steps if you wear the wrist one and stand still and just move your arm it will register steps and the faster you move the more it will register and if your hand/wrist is vibrating due to holding machinery or something it will register even more, which indicates it's not steps at all and if you have calorie estimate turned on it adds a guestimate of calories you would've burned in a normal TDEE when you aren't moving. It all seems to balance out tho as far as calories are concerned compared to say a polar heart rate monitor worn for the same 24hr period, it's the steps that aren't necessarily accurate which is ironic since it's marketed as a pedometer.

    All the devices are to be used as a guide not gospel

    just as an example i work primarily as a forklift driver yet somehow still manage to get in 13000 steps in a 9hr work day that consist of 7hrs of sitting on the forklift granted the arms and legs are constantly moving but i'm not walking and thus not stepping Driving a car registers a few hundred in a 30min drive, once again not walking anywhere so it's registering movement not steps perse.

    Thats nuts. Not you, that your fitbit does that. I have noticed I have the force and one of the people I work with has the flex and his registers when he does arm movements. I work as an IT and go to multiple sites and walk around a ton at work, I log that I was driving so it takes those steps off because if I drive one of my work trucks it measures on me but if I just drive my car it does nada.

    I took the plunge and bought the H7 after weighing all the options on here hopefully it works out for me. I downloaded all the apps and hopefully using this can help me get a more accurate measure for steady aerobics thanks for the tips everyone :)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    flying off me so disagree sorry , but i guess its a case of what works for you :-)
    Actually it's science. Choice of how you workout doesn't trump it.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

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